Preconditions for dogmatic methodology: from metropolitan Macarius (Bulgakov) to V. Solovyov

The article proposes an approach to the theological analysis of the legacy of such outstanding authors of Russian church scholarship as Metropolitan Macarius (Bulgakov), Bishop Sylvester (Malevansky), and the no less outstanding thinker and religious philosopher Vladimir Solovyov from the point of view of their methodology, more precisely, certain preconditions of consciousness substantiating one or another methodology of theological work. These prerequisites are formed on the basis of one or another understanding of the nature of dogma. In order to reveal an appropriate understanding of the nature of dogmatic truth, these authors are proposed to turn to such particular topics as the cognizability of dogma for the human mind and its development in the course of historical life. The research allows us to single out in Russian theological thought of the second half of the 19th century two views on the question of the cognizability of dogma and three views on the historical development of dogmatic truth, which, in turn, gives rise to the originality of approaches and methodology of theological work.